Community Fire Units | ACT Emergency Services Agency
Source: https://esa.act.gov.au/join-us/volunteering/community-fire-units
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:31
Community Fire Units | ACT Emergency Services Agency
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Community Fire Units
Working with the community
An ACT Fire and Rescue preparedness initiative
Community Fire Units
Working with the community
An ACT Fire and Rescue preparedness initiative
Introduction to Community Fire Units
A Community Fire Unit (CFU) is a team of local residents who live close to bush land areas across the ACT. These local volunteers are trained and equipped by ACT Fire & Rescue to safeguard their homes during a bushfire until the fire services arrive.
CFU volunteers utilise basic firefighting equipment (pumps, hoses and protective clothing) to prepare the areas surrounding their properties and prevent a bushfire from spreading from adjoining bushland to their houses and backyards.
A typical CFU team consists of 8 to 30 members and has a designated area encompassing 50 to 80 homes.
The focus is on bushfire education, prevention and preparation, covering areas such as:
Bushfire behavior
Safe housekeeping and gardening practices
Planning and preparation for bushfires
Operating fire-fighting equipment
Mop up operations
CFU members are a part of ACT Fire & Rescue and take direction from ACTF&R Officers but they are not fire-fighters.
The ACT CFU program began in late 2003. Following a successful trial of 8 units, the program has now expanded to 46 CFUs in high risk bushfire areas. There are around 500 volunteer members across the 46 units.
CFU New Member Application Process
Accessibility
Privacy
Disclaimer
Copyright
Sitemap
Skip to main content
Community Fire Units
Working with the community
An ACT Fire and Rescue preparedness initiative
Community Fire Units
Working with the community
An ACT Fire and Rescue preparedness initiative
Introduction to Community Fire Units
A Community Fire Unit (CFU) is a team of local residents who live close to bush land areas across the ACT. These local volunteers are trained and equipped by ACT Fire & Rescue to safeguard their homes during a bushfire until the fire services arrive.
CFU volunteers utilise basic firefighting equipment (pumps, hoses and protective clothing) to prepare the areas surrounding their properties and prevent a bushfire from spreading from adjoining bushland to their houses and backyards.
A typical CFU team consists of 8 to 30 members and has a designated area encompassing 50 to 80 homes.
The focus is on bushfire education, prevention and preparation, covering areas such as:
Bushfire behavior
Safe housekeeping and gardening practices
Planning and preparation for bushfires
Operating fire-fighting equipment
Mop up operations
CFU members are a part of ACT Fire & Rescue and take direction from ACTF&R Officers but they are not fire-fighters.
The ACT CFU program began in late 2003. Following a successful trial of 8 units, the program has now expanded to 46 CFUs in high risk bushfire areas. There are around 500 volunteer members across the 46 units.
CFU New Member Application Process
Accessibility
Privacy
Disclaimer
Copyright
Sitemap